Flood Warnings and Roads Closed

A sinkhole on Highway 101 near milepost 144 has passage down to one lane. (Photo: OSP)

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Siletz River. At 4 pm today, Wednesday, January 18th the river level was at 14.9 feet and is expected to rise above flood stage (16 ft) by 7pm today and to crest at 17.2 ft by 10pm tonight. It is expected to remain above flood stage with additional rises possibly on Thursday the 19th. Citizens should expect minor lowland flooding and minor flooding of some structures and roads along the Siletz river at and above the 16ft mark.

A flood warning for the Alsea River near Tidewater is in effect through Friday evening, or until the warning is cancelled. At 4:00 p.m. Wednesday the river was at 16.9 feet. Flood stage is 18.0 feet. Minor flooding is forecast, with a flood crest near 20.0 feet around 10:00 p.m. Thursday. Expect minor flooding of low-lying pastureland, roads and structures along the river.

A Flood Watch remains in effect through Friday morning for the rest of the area.

The Oregon Department of Transportation reports Highway 18 between Lincoln City and Grand Ronde will be closed overnight (Wednesday into Thursday), with a closure between MP 6 and 6.5.

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Search For Missing Hunter Ends

Floyd Lucero

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has ended its search for Floyd Lucero, 56, of Otis, who failed to return from a late afternoon hunt November 19. He was believed to be in a timbered area between Holiday Lane in Rose Lodge and Bear Creek Road, south of Highway 18. Lincoln County Search and Rescue Coordinator Deputy Bruce McGuire said “Between the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue and private citizens, the area he was last seen in has been covered heavily. Due to Mr. Lucero wearing camouflage clothing, and the areas of heavy brush, it has made the effort to locate him a difficult task,” McGuire said. Searches will keep doing spot searches in the area, but the active search was suspended Monday (November 28).

A friend of Lucero’s originally called 9-1-1 when Lucero failed to return November 19. Lucero was wearing camouflage, was reportedly familiar with the area and an avid outdoorsman, according to LCSO. Anyone with information on Lucero’s whereabouts is asked to call 541-265-4231. Search teams began working November 20, although efforts were hampered two days last week due to the weather.

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Highway 18 Closed Overnight

Oregon 18, between Lincoln City and McMinnville is closed due to downed trees tonight, according to Lou Torres of the Oregon Department of Transportation. Torres said conditions were so dangerous due to falling trees that crews were pulled out and are expected to return Wednesday morning.

(Information reported by our news partner, Oregonlive.com. Photo: Oregonlive.com)

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Active Search For Missing Hunter

Floyd Lucero

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has search and rescue operations working in the Rose Lodge area, after a report of an overdue hunter. A friend of Floyd Lucero, 56, of Otis called 9-1-1 when Lucero failed to return from a late afternoon hunt November 19. He was in a timber area accessed off Holiday Lane in Rose Lodge. He was believed to be hunting between there and Bear Creek Road, south of Highway 18. Lucero was wearing camouflage, was reportedly familiar with the area and an avid outdoorsman, according to LCSO. A ground search is underway utilizing the Lincoln County Search and Rescue Team, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the U.S. Forest Service and some private citizens. Anyone with information on Lucero’s whereabouts is asked to call 541-265-4231.

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Body Identified as Missing Neotsu Woman

Kayoko Umenishi is missing and presumed endangered

The Lincoln County Medical Examiner has positively identified the body of a woman found Saturday morning on a local beach as Kayoko Umenshi, 38, of Neotsu. Umenshi reportedly left her home October 12, driving the family car, a white 2001 Toyota Camry with Oregon license plate 562EZM. She was listed as missing and considered endangered because she left without medication. Her car was found later at the Otter Crest overlook. Then, on the morning of October 15, 2011, Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers responded to a report of a woman’s body found on the beach near Beverly Beach State Park. There was no evidence at the scene that her death was associated with a crime. An investigation continues into the cause of her death.

Kayoko Umenishi was born August 17, 1973 in Hiroshima, Japan to Junso and Fukumi Nakagawa. She is survived by her husband and son. No services are planned at this time. Arrangements by Pacific View Memorial Chapel.

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